Color is really starting to take a presence on the web that I am truly enjoying. It is also really helping to solidify a theory I have had since the web 2.0 trend started. Web 2.0 has its own trends, it’s not about shiny reflective logos or grunge style or hand drawn looks or any of that it is about an ever evolving spectrum of design. Web 2.0 started a trend of striving for standards compliance and accessibility, good looks and fresh design just happened to come along with the package. So what does this mean? I’ll tell you what I think…

Web design has been very recently ‘web fashion’ it evolves and changes so rapidly who knows whats next, but you can be sure that when the next ‘big thing’ hits the scene everyone will love it, company’s will want to relaunch with a fresh look, blog designers will be redesigning, the world of design becomes captivated with it.(For the most part.) Much as the fashion industry becomes captivated by the latest trends. Mostly this is a positive thing, it makes for a great community of designers and developers. The web becomes varied and beautiful, making it a great pool of inspiration and resource. People are really starting to see this area of design as an art form. Go designers of the world!

So whats the ‘fashion’ you say? Color, yeah, color and I am totally digging it. Color is populating the web in a way that is completely perfect right now. Over saturated, muted, rainbowed (I know that is not a word), watercolor, gradients, you name it, its on like Donkey Kong right now. Gone are the days of this being shiny metal and that being blue plastic. Research shows that red is not the only color that gets peoples attention. So whats the big deal? Color has been around forever, it is not like the web was black and white before. True. However it wasnt used to its full artistic potential. Art has been bought and sold for years, it captivates people, it moves them. Art on the web is a great way to sell… you, your company, whatever. It just works, trust me, it is really doing something right now. Check it…
I have compiled a list of sites that are using color in great ways (remember these are just my favorites, please feel free to tell me of any others you know). They are listed in no particular order with exception of the first (which I will be linking to again shortly). I have also added some that I thought maybe some of you haven’t seen. Enjoy them!

The usage of color from the bold tones to the soft muted blended palletes is taking hold accross various styles. This great new use of color has embeded itself among all of the current web2.0 trends. And I hope it lives on forever. But then again the excitment of the next great trend is also something I look forward to.

Also be sure to check out these articles on Web Designer Wall for more info about design trends. They offer some insight to trends going on right now. And a great gallery of sites you may or may not be familar with.

2008 Web Design Trends
Vintage Web Design
33 Artistic Sites

Filed under: Inspiration, Trends by Dan